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Tips on buying old french racers

  • 28-08-2012 9:37pm
    #1
    PurpleBee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 274 ✭✭


    My first tip is not to buy one!

    But if you must, here are a few things I didn't check and regretting not checking later...

    I didn't lift up the bike and spin the back wheel to make sure the hub wasn't fecked. Which it was.

    I didn't try to wiggle the pedals to make sure the bottom bracket wasn't gone. Which it was.

    I didn't check the chain to make sure it wasn't stretched. Which it was.

    I didn't check how easy it was to replace worn parts without having to replace pretty much everything on the bike because of quirky french manufacturing techniques.

    And finally I didn't check to make sure the bike didn't have tubs. Which it did!

    I think I've learned many valuable but costly lessons in the space of buying two old french racers, but before I even consider buying a third I was wondering if there are any other things I need to look out for? I used to think bikes were simple...


Comments

  • #2
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,438 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    PurpleBee wrote: »
    My first tip is not to buy one!

    But if you must, here are a few things I didn't check and regretting not checking later...

    I didn't lift up the bike and spin the back wheel to make sure the hub wasn't fecked. Which it was.

    I didn't try to wiggle the pedals to make sure the bottom bracket wasn't gone. Which it was.

    I didn't check the chain to make sure it wasn't stretched. Which it was.

    I didn't check how easy it was to replace worn parts without having to replace pretty much everything on the bike because of quirky french manufacturing techniques.

    And finally I didn't check to make sure the bike didn't have tubs. Which it did!

    I think I've learned many valuable but costly lessons in the space of buying two old french racers, but before I even consider buying a third I was wondering if there are any other things I need to look out for? I used to think bikes were simple...
    Thanks dude! I was just about to hand over the cash!!


  • #3
    Mycroft H
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,313 ✭✭✭Mycroft H


    You could apply the same to any old British, American, Japanese or Italian road bicycle.

    They're pitfalls of old bicycles, not just French ones


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